Question for Rules Gurus: Full-Round Spells

[DizzyKungFu]

In the PHB, it says that a spell that takes 1 full round to cast is a full-round action. It comes into effect just before the beginning of the character's turn in the round after the character began casting the spell. The character then acts normally after the spell is completed.

Now obviously that means that the character would provoke an attack of opportunity when they started casting the spell (perhaps requiring a Concentration check if they got hit).

My question is this: if that character takes damage after his turn (but before their next turn when the spell comes into effect), say from a normal attack or an area spell, do they still require a Concentration check? Are they still vulnerable to interruption, or are they only vulnerable during their turn when they take the full-round action?

 

[Dreaddisease]

Correct, damage taken during a full round spell is a concentration check for each. The balancing of a spell can be handled by making it a full round spell in this way.

Wish that full round single actions acted the same. Stupid CDG. And yes I did read the game stoppers section on it. Doesn't mean I agree with it.


edit: spell, check; it all sounds the same to a 6 month old.

 

[Kershek]

Yes, you are correct, because it takes him a full 6 seconds of chanting and waving his arms around like a fool to get the spell off.

 

[kreynolds]

concentration spell.

Is that a new spell? Sounds like a new spell. I'll write that down right next to my own spell. It's the I Don't Think That Damn Spell Exhists Anywhere spell.

 

[Magic Rub]

...do they still require a Concentration check...

Yup!

 

[DizzyKungFu]

Can someone point out/quote the relevant rules that prove this to be the case? Not that I disbelieve anyone, but I'd like to be able to show my players something concrete.

 

[Greatwyrm]

From the SRD:

Concentration

To cast a spell, the character must concentrate. If something interrupts the character's concentration while the character is casting, the character must make a Concentration check or lose the spell. The more distracting the interruption and the higher the level of the spell the character is trying to cast, the higher the DC is. (The DC depends partly on the spell level because more powerful spells require more mental effort.) If the character fails the check, the character loses the spell just as if the character had cast it to no effect.

Injury: Getting hurt or being affected by hostile magic while trying to cast a spell can break the character's concentration and ruin a spell. If while trying to cast a spell the character takes damage, fail a saving throw, or are otherwise successfully assaulted, the character must make a Concentration check. The DC is 10 + points of damage taken + the level of the spell the character is casting. If the character fails the check, the character loses the spell without effect. The interrupting event strikes during spellcasting if it comes between when the character starts and completes a spell (for a spell with a casting time of 1 full round or more) or if it comes in response to the character casting the spell (such as an attack of opportunity provoked by the spell or a contingent attack, such as a readied action).

Something strikingly similar should be in the Magic Overview section of the PHB if you like that better. Check the index and look for Concentration.

 

[DizzyKungFu]

And here is the second part of my question:

Suppose that a wizard is casting a summon monster III spell (a full-round spell). He doesn't provoke any immediate AoOs, but later in the round, before his turn comes up again, he is hit by a magic missile for 4 points of damage. So he immediately needs to make a Concentration check, DC 17, right?

Now what if he got hit by an enemy fighter with a longsword for another 4 points of damage after the magic missile, but before his turn comes up again. He makes an immediate second check, right? Is it another DC 17 Concentration check? Or is the damage cumulative (resulting in the second check being DC 21)?

 

[Greatwyrm]

My money is on 2 checks at 17. I don't have the citation for this one, but IIRC, you only add damage up for stuff like this if it's continuing damage (e.g. acid and burning oil both doing damage to you).

 

[mikebr99]

I'll second Greatwyrm's answer... seperate checks for every distraction.